The latest MIFC news for you!

March 2021

Club Club News & Updatess & updates

Mercer Island FC is our community's volunteer-led, non-profit soccer club for kids of all ages. Let’s play!

www.mercerislandfc.org

President's Message
Competition in COVID-Phase 2
Register for Spring Academy
Colin Rigby: Goals for Player and Coach Development
MIFC Volunteer and Staff Opportunities
MIHS Girls Soccer Season Underway

President's Message

Hello Mercer Island FC Families,

Now that we are seeing some light at the end of the Covid tunnel we turn our attention to resuming our “normal” programs here at MIFC.

We have been doing all we can this past year to provide opportunities for soccer in our community. There have been a lot of Select and Juniors teams training, some other clinic programs such as Winter Academy and now we are looking at resuming games for our Select and Juniors teams in spring. We are now looking for ways to give kids who have been choosing to stay away from group training or have been in our recreational program in the past a place to play. We begin that with our Spring Academy staring this month and we plan to conduct a Microsoccer spring program in May and June. Look for some other camps and possible new programs this summer.

All of this is to say we care about all of our families no matter what level they play and we want to hear from you if you have any questions or suggestions as we move forward to what we all hope is a normal looking fall season. Feel free to reach out to any of our board or staff members.

We look forward to seeing you all out on the pitch!

Competition in COVID-Phase 2aching Staff

At long last, competitive games are underway for our Select Players. MIFC entered 11 Select teams in the North Puget Sound League, which began Spring competition on February 27 for a 6 game season.

MIFC is sending 10 teams to the Washington Youth Soccer Founders Cup, beginning the weekend of March 20. It will feature a few weekends of group play followed by semi-finals and finals at Starfire the weekend of April 23-25,

Likewise, our Juniors program has been up and running since mid-January and will finish the spring season in April.

Everyone seems to be enjoying the outdoor exercise and opportunity to play with their friends.

Mercer Island FC Spring Academy is designed for soccer players of all levels, run by our MIFC Trainers & Coaches. This Season we are opening Spring Academy for all players U8 and older (2013 - 2003). Spring Academy will be the following:

Schedule: 6 Weeks on Tuesdays & Thursdays

4:30 -6:00pm @ IMS Turf

March 23rd, 25th
March 30th, April 1st
April 6th, April 8th (Spring Break - will have Spring Academy for those that are in town))
April 13th, April 15th,
April 20th, April 22nd
April 27th, April 29th

Colin Rigby's Corner

Player Development

The aim for returning players back to the field safely and efficiently is the top objective. We all know that the fitness levels of everyone is going to be all over the place, so we have been focused on building players back into the game. It starts with just getting the communication between teammates back up and running. Remembering what kind of movements each other make on the field and how we can progress collectively as a group. We are doing this by putting heavy focus on small sided games and targeting the decision making process in small and large spaces. There is always an ongoing effort to highlight the shape principles, which are to learn the game with the concept of space and time, NOT positions.

Coach development:

We are already starting to look at next years coaches slate and make sure everyone is ready to go. We are constantly seeking to improve the coach/player relationship and enhance the coaching methodology. Our coaching methodology continues to look at improving and developing a thoughtful player. Coaches have been following a north star curriculum that puts players in tight situations and coaches them to find their ways out.

Always looking to improve, so if you have any feedback, please reach out.

MIFC Volunteer Opportunities

MIFC is looking for members of the soccer community who are interested in joining our staff and Board of Directors.

Click here to learn more about available positions.

MIHS Girls Soccer Season Underway

MIHS GIrls Soccer held a compressed 2-day tryout session on March 1-2 and formed a Varsity and a Junior Varsity team. Practices began on March 3 to prepare for the 8 match "pod" season. KingCo created 5-team pods for competition. MIHS will play two matches against each of Bellevue, Interlake, Newport and Sammamish with no post-season play. No spectators are allowed at away games. Spectator protocols for home games are still being worked out. Follow Twitter @ MIHS Girls Soccer to follow game coverage as spectators will be limited. So glad to see many MIFC players and alumni on the rosters.

Varsity Senior Captains Avery Condor, Makena French, and Emily Yang will lead returning Varsity seniors Kaija Szylko and Madeleine McElroy; returning juniors Abbie Orndorff, Addie Waterman, Audrey Kris, Leela Jacob, and Mackenzie Hamilton, and new varsity players Caley Newcomer, Georgia Samuels, Jenna Martin, Jessica Zhang, Kaisa Olson, Katie Pedersen, Mia Shanafelt and Mimi Pietila. Coach James Valles has his sights set on a Bellevue sweep this season.

Junior Varsity players are Maija Brandt, Samantha Moeller, Lila Saloranta, Mia Nakano, Julia Harper, Katie Evans, Liv Talerman, Mia Fischer, Joey Lurie, Addie Bergman, Ella Martin, Alexandra Hyman, Addison Schiller, Amelie Schmid, Maya Lawrence, Katie Friedman, Caitlin Monahan, Christine O'Donnell, Lila Medin and Asha Woerner.

Match schedule is as follows: (JV games are 2 hours before Varsity game start)

March 9: MIHS Varsity v Interlake High School (AWAY), 8:00 pm

March 11 MIHS Varsity v Newport High School (HOME), 7:30pm

March 18 MIHS Varsity v Bellevue High School (HOME) 7:30pm

March 20 MIHS Varsity v Sammamish High School (HOME) 1:00pm

March 23 MIHS Varsity v Interlake High School (HOME) 7:30pm

March 25 MIHS Varsity v Sammamish High School (AWAY) 8:00pm

March 27 MIHS Varsity v Newport High School (AWAY) 2:00pm

April 1 MIHS Varsity v Bellevue High School (AWAY) 8:00pm

MIHS Boys Soccer Tryouts are on May 3, 3:30-5:30pm

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